Greetings,

Thanks to all those who came down to the Purcell Room, SouthBank on March 15th to watch Solus3 and special guest Damo Suzuki. We had a great night.

I'm currently out on tour with Marti Pellow. I first worked with Marti on 'The War Of The Worlds' late last year, and was asked to join him to do a series of theatre concerts around the UK to promote his latest solo album, 'Hope', which is a beautiful collection of show tunes.
The concerts are very intimate, and there are only six of us on stage. I get to play both harp and percussion, which always makes me happy.
The band comprises of Grant Mitchell on piano, Joe Downard on bass, myself, Adam Goldsmith on guitar and Chris Jerome on keys. So far gigs are being warmly received, and hats off to Marti for carrying the show off....not an easy job.
Shortly after finishing on the 'Hope' tour, I am off  to work with Rod Stewart, something which has only been in the pipeline for a couple of weeks. Very exciting, and all quite sudden, so it's a quick turn around, just time to repack my suitcase before heading out to LA to rehearse for the 'Live The Life' tour which is traveling around the UK this coming June and also in November.

Dates will be going up on the 'Live' page just as soon as I get organised.

Take care,

with love,

Julia 

Dear Listener,

Just a quick update to say thank-you to all those who came to see 'Jeff Wayne's The War Of The Worlds New Gen Live!', and who left great messages on my guest book page. The UK and European dates were a success by all accounts, and the tour will be back, same time in 2014. I really enjoyed this leg of a tour which I have now been involved with for the past 6 years, whilst also managing to avoid the Norovirus and gastric flu strains which were mercilessly laying out many of our touring party. Phew!

I have news of the next Not So Silent Movies at King's Place in just over a weeks time, at which I will be a special guest, albiet one of my favourite regular gigs.
Here is the link to find out more about this gem of an event, and to buy your tickets;
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on-book-tickets/music/not-so-silent-moviesfeat-elspeth-hanson-julia-thornton#.UPrBoIXoVCY

PLEASE don't forget to book your place for the Solus3 return to the Purcell Room, South Bank, with guest vocalist Damo Susuki. This is going to be a fantastic night! We're there on March 15th, here's the link;
http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/music/gigs-contemporary/tickets/feel-free-energy-with-solus3-and-damo-suzuki-69568


More news about live dates in the Spring to come :-))

Happy listening and keep warm and toasty,

Julia x

Hello all,

Not long to go now before rehearsals begin for The War Of The Worlds Live! New Generation tour. Just gearing myself up to a busy couple of months ahead....

Recent gigs have included the new season of Not So Silent Movies at King's Place, London. This is the brainchild of cellist and composer Phillip Sheppard and involves a group of musicians performing improvised soundtracks to classic silent films. The concept is totally brilliant, and everyone from audience members and band musicians has a lot of fun. For September's edition we were fortunate to be joined by the Oscar winning composer Dario Marianelli on piano, and Jarvis Cocker on stylophone. In October we welcomed yet another Oscar winning composer, Stephen Warbeck, and the writer of 'Hugo', Brian Selznick. Our first venture with a narrator, and it was a surprisingly emotional occasion....definately one to be repeated!

On Thursday 8th November, I was part of the unveiling ceremony of a beautiful statue in memory of the Spy Princess as she has become known. Noor Inayat Khan was an exceptional young woman who died at the tender age of 30 during World War II at the hands of the Nazis. The ceremony took place in Gordon Square and was attended by HRH The Princess Royal, who unveiled the statue.

I have been recording new material for Solus3's fourth album which will be due out next year, but not before our 'Corner of The Dub' release of remixes which is out January 7th. That's the official release date, but you can mail order and download in the interim. We play the SouthBank next March 15th to celebrate! Please do book your tickets early for this. We will be joined on stage by Damo Suzuki.

Check out the link to buy tickets: http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/music/gigs-contemporary/tickets/feel-free-energy-with-solus3-and-damo-suzuki-69568

...and to listen to our music: http://solus-3.bandcamp.com/music

Happy listening,

Julia x

Dear All,


The Purcell Room gig was almost a sell-out! Thanks for coming if you were there....we had a great night, and Jan Dunning's films and images really helped to bring another expressive medium to our soundscape.
The Not So Silent Movies season at King's Place has come to an end, sadly. We will be back however, resident in Hall 1 as of September, and have some fabulous guests lined up to join the usual motley crew which includes, Phil Sheppard, Elspeth Hanson, Guy Pratt, Geoff Dugmore, Pete Furniss, Pip Eastop, Mark Neary and myself.
Preparations for Solus3's 3rd album are in the pipeline, as well as a return visit to the SouthBank next March....we are organising a series of dates around this time, so I will keep you posted on this as and when.
The War Of The Worlds New Generation goes out on the road again at the end of the year, and rehearsals will be beginning in November. I am signed up to reprise my roll in the Black Smoke Band on percussion, harp and a new keys part too.
More news soon........happy June,


Julia x

New Year Update:

Hello all,

Just to apologise for a lack of updates, but I've been struggling with health issues and am now starting to feel normal once again. The Solus3 album launch was unfortunately cancelled due to my being ill back in November, but we are very much on track for our Purcell Room debut in early April, and really looking forward to playing the South Bank, with the help of the wonderful artist and Solus3 album artwork photographer Jan Dunning. I really hope that you can join us for what I'm sure will be a great night of audio and visual stimulation. Please get your tickets now!
I'm also looking forward to our collaboration in the studio with guitar wunderkind Matt Baldwin. Solus3 plan to spend a day in the studio with Matt experimenting and jamming and generally seeing what will happen in mid March.
Not So Silent Movies continues to be a project that feeds my exploratory leanings. The next one takes place at the opening night of the Bath Literature Festival in March, and there are a few dates at Kings Place, so check the 'live' page for those.
Hope to see you at one or more of the above, but in the meantime, may you stay warm and cold-free!

Julia x

Please do come and join Solus3 at their toe-warming, finger-tingling album launch on November 28th.
We will be playing The Green Note, Camden and it promises to be a night of great musical moments.

We'll be playing a mixed set, songs/tracks from our debut 'The Sky Above The Roof', and songs from the new album, as yet untitled, but being mastered shortly!
All your support is greatly appreciated, so please show us you love us by coming down! Myself, Ian ('Lunar Dunes' bass), Hami ('TransGlobal Undergrd' drums), Krupa ('TransGlobalUndergrd' on vocals ), Francesco (trumpet and crazy vocals)and Gemma ('Lulu and The Lampshades' on vocals and guitar) will all be there...

On a different (but similar?) musical note, I'll be taking part in the second 'Not So Silent Movies' concert at the spacious new King's Place on November 6th, at 3pm. The first in the series a few weeks back saw the birth of a wonderful project. Musicians organise themselves on a stage, a silent film begins to appear on the screen, and the musicians begin to play, not having rehearsed or even discussed tempos or keys. Our first outing was a resounding success and these concerts look to be the first of many. Thanks go to Philip Shepperd for organising and instigating this exciting idea!
If you would like to come along and witness something rather special and yet still very much in it's infancy, book tickets by going to the Kings Place website.
love,
Julia x

Solus3 at The 12 Bar

 A BIG thank-you to all those of you who graced The 12 Bar on Denmark St last Thursday evening with your energy and good vibes, we are happy that you came to support us.
Did you enjoy it? We had some really wonderful feedback from a whole gaggle of you, which would lead us to the conclusion that you did.
The next Solus3 date for your diaries is 28th Nov. at the Green Note. This promises to be a warmly attended night as we proceed to launch the second album, so don't be shy, come down to Camden and share the space with us ♥
I am taking part in a wonderful project at King's Place in the next few months. Dates are Nov. 6th and Dec. 4th. Come along for 'Not-So-Silent-Movies' and enjoy an improvised score to some great B&W silent films...just follow the link below to find out more and book tickets.
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on-book-tickets/curated-weeks/not-so-silent-movies-mini-series

Stay warm and don't get blown away,

Julia x